Yorkshire town celebrates RAF personnel's return from Afghanistan

Nearly 3,000 people lined the streets of a North Yorkshire market town last week to welcome home from Afghanistan officers and airmen from RAF Leeming.

Personnel from No 2 Force Protection (FP) Wing, 34 Squadron RAF Regiment and 609 (West Riding) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force paraded through the streets of Bedale on Thursday 12 May 2011.

The Wing have just returned from a seven-month tour of duty in Afghanistan which saw service in extreme weather, hostile conditions and time away from their families over Christmas.

750 pupils from local schools, 350 servicemen from RAF Leeming and in excess of 1,500 well-wishers from around the region lined Bedale's streets, joining proud parents, families and loved ones in welcoming the personnel home....

"If I count this as almost the final point of the tour, the high point for me is this. All of my men are back safely and the job was achieved."

Commenting on the parade itself, he said:

"It's quite overwhelming and I thought I was made of sterner stuff, but it really was quite emotional leading my men through the streets of Bedale, through a very warm welcome from the locals. It just reinforces that we are very much part of the community here."...